A look at key players in the Lebanese elections

SAAD HARIRI: After former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005, his 39-year-old son inherited the family's political mantle. The billionaire businessman heads the largest bloc in parliament and is competing for a Sunni Muslim seat in Beirut. Hariri is leader of the pro-Western majority contesting against a coalition of the Shiite militant Hezbollah and Christian groups.

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HEZBOLLAH: The Shiite Muslim guerrilla group, backed by Iran and Syria, fought a devastating war against Israel in 2006. It has veto power in the government and is looking to increase its political power along with its Shiite and Christian allies. Hezbollah had 11 candidates in the 2005 elections. It has 11 candidates running in different parts of the country.

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MICHEL AOUN: A former army commander, Aoun, 74, leads the Free Patriotic Movement. He had the largest Christian bloc in parliament. Aoun is a major ally of Hezbollah against the Western-backed coalition. Aoun is running for a seat in the Maronite Catholic Christian mountain region of Keserwan, north of Beirut.

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NABIH BERRI: The leader of the Shiite Amal group, Berri has been parliamentary speaker since 1992. An ally of Syria, Berri, 71, is running in an alliance with Hezbollah and Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement. He is running for a Shiite seat in the southern district of Zahrani.

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WALID JUMBLATT: Political leader of the Druse sect, Jumblatt, 59, is running for a Druse seat in the central region of Chouf in Mount Lebanon. He is a leading member of the pro-Western coalition.

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SAMIR GEAGEA: A former Christian warlord, Geagea, 56, was serving life in prison for political assassinations but was released after the 2005 parliamentary elections. His Lebanese Forces group is part of the anti-Syrian coalition and has seven candidates running in this year's elections. Geagea himself is not running but his wife, Setrida, is seeking re-election for a Maronite seat.

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SULEIMAN FRANJIEH: One of Syria's strongest Christian allies in Lebanon, Franjieh, 43, is a former interior minister. He lost his seat in 2005 and is currently running for a Maronite seat in the northern district of Zgharta. He is allied with Hezbollah and Aoun.

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PHALANGE PARTY: The right-wing Christian group of former President Amin Gemayel. It has seven Christian candidates running in different parts of Lebanon. They are part of the pro-Western, anti-Hezbollah coalition. Among Phalangists running is Gemayel's younger son Sami and nephew Nadim.